VW News: The Curious Case Of The Volkswagen GTD and The U.S.

[William Maley]

Last year, Volkswagen made an announcement that shocked many of us. The Golf GTD, a GTI with a diesel was slated to come to the U.S. within the next couple years. But news coming out of New York may dash those dreams many of us had.

Volkswagen of America's CEO, Michael Horn told reporters that the 2.0L turbodiesel engine used in the GTD cannot be built at company's engine plant in Silao, Mexico, and that the engine would have to be imported from Germany, rasing the cost.

“The GTD would be a great car,” said Horn, but with that added cost, “the price point is not really attractive. So the probability is sort of diminishing.”

Horn didn't say why the engine couldn't be built at the plant in Mexico.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

View full article

[A Horse With No Name]

This would be a great car. However, should the TDI get more reliable wit the new engine, performance update could make me my own GTD.

[G. David Felt]

Based on the horror stories of VW diesel owners with water issues, rough running, starting etc. I would say they need to focus on building a dependable version before trying it in the US.

[A Horse With No Name]

Depends on the VW product, Golf is fairly reliable, Beetle not so much....esp prev. Beetle, current Beetle is somewhat better.